In the span of the past year or so, the Masland Library has upgraded the study areas in the building in order to provide the students of Cairn University with greater comfort for the long hours of reading, a quieter atmosphere for quality study sessions, and even more advanced technology options for those of us who forget our laptops, phone chargers, or earphones all the way down in Heritage Hall. Some of these additions are obvious and exciting – others are subtle, yet essential to the academic success and the mental sanity of the students of the university. The exciting additions are as follows:

BRAND NEW headphones, ones that fit most head sizes. These headphones are classy, comfortable and sound-cancelling (for the most part). Not only will you experience quality sound, but you also get a quality look as you jam out to your tunes. No more of those clunky, old, space antennas that we used to offer. (Unless you really liked the space antennas. We still have those.)

The downstairs computer lab has been magically transformed into a quiet study space for those of you that don’t want to be affected by the not-so-whispered conversations and the sound of books dropping in the main part of the library. Use this space for individual study – NOT for group study. (We have private study rooms available for groups to have space to discuss and work together. Check out keys for the study rooms at the front desk!*) Specialities of the quiet study space involve super big and comfy chairs, large work areas (a few of which resemble dining room tables), and inspirational pieces of art to stimulate your brain.

We now have CHROMEBOOKS available for check-out! These sleek little pieces of technology are a great tool for those days when you spill your coffee all over your MacBook, when you forgot your power cord in your dorm room, or when you just want to try out some new technology. The Chromebooks can be checked out for 2 hours at a time, but they have to stay in the library. Make sure you treat them as if they were your own, because if you don’t.. Well.. it might cost you something**.

Finally, the most exciting addition of all. The Masland Library has FINALLY – after years of tears, petitions, pleas, suggestion cards, threats, and stiff backs – added BEANBAGS to your library experience. These beanbags serve many purposes, of few of which I will name.

WHAT BEANBAGS ARE FOR

Sitting on

Taking that inevitable study break nap

Hanging out with your friends in comfort (quietly, of course***)

Writing papers and doing research while feeling like you’re enveloped in a cloud

Generally enjoying because they are soft and fluffy and big and lovely and infinitely better than the chairs

WHAT BEANBAGS NOT FOR

Throwing over the second floor balcony. Seriously. No. That’s how people die.

Canoodling. Shenanigans. You know what I mean. All those Cairn couples out there.. One person per beanbag, please. PDA to the minimum, please. For everyone else’s sake, please.. Leave room for Jesus.

Eating food. These beanbags are in pristine (kind of) condition and deserve to be treated with respect to keep them as beautiful and comfortable as they are now. Also, you’re not allowed to be eating food in the library anyways****, so.. Keep that in mind as you enjoy the fluff.

Building forts. Those suckers are pretty hefty, so keep them on the floor, okay*****? It’s better for everyone that way.

Take advantage of all of these upgrades******! They are here to make your life easier, happier, and less stressful. Happy Thursday!

* Seriously. We will ask you to relocate to a noise-friendly area of the library.

** Cost you something like the price of a Chromebook. Or your technology-using privileges.

*** Seriously. We will call security to escort you from the premises in handcuffs if you can’t keep your voices down. Well.. maybe not in handcuffs, but.. Be respectful, okay?

**** Nobody likes ants and rodents hanging out by the beanbags, right? Right. Keep the crumbs in the library. Seriously.

***** Seriously. Do your back and your tired limbs a favor and leave them on the floor.

****** Seriously!! We want you to be here and we have these resources for your enjoyment and convenience.

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world.” (Philippians 2:14-15)

5 a.m. Jolted awake by yet another fire alarm. The Heritage Hall microwaves are at it again. As the residents of Heritage gathered outside the building in 30 degree air – some wrapped in blankets, some wearing shorts and t-shirts, some fully dressed and ready to take on the day – there were many conversations going on, but as I sat shivering on the curb, there was a theme that kept jumping out at me as I overheard snippets of conversations: complaining.

“I have to be up in two hours!” “I have to go to class!” “I just want to be back in bed.” “Who makes popcorn at 5 a.m?!” “I’m gonna hunt down whoever set it off this time.”

I’m tired.

I’m cold.

I’m this.

I’m that.

Fellow Cairn students, I have a newsflash for you: We’re all tired.

Throughout the past few weeks, conversations around campus have been marked with the consistent theme of complaints – about the food in the MAC, about professors, about due dates, papers, lack of sleep, friend drama, Student Life, you name it. The fact is that we’re all struggling. It’s November! It’s the time of the semester when huge papers start piling up, daunting reading assignments take forever to finish, and getting any amount of decent sleep seems impossible. It is so easy to begin to believe that you are the only person who is experiencing stress, exhaustion and the feeling of being completely overwhelmed. But the truth is, you’re not the only one.

This fact presents a point of encouragement and a challenge. Be encouraged that you are not alone. You are not the only one who is buried by life, and therefore, we are buried together. We can take this opportunity to walk alongside one another, to point each other back to Jesus, to remind each other that our strength and joy in each day comes only from HIM, not from ourselves. We are a community of believers. We have the amazing opportunity to live together, eat together, learn together, grow together, and experience 5 a.m. fire alarms together.

A couple weeks ago in chapel, Dr. Williams challenged us to practice encouraging one another. Giving each other courage, empowering one another. Can I ask you to do just that? Think twice about the words that you speak. There is value in being honest with each other concerning the condition of our hearts and in sharing our burdens, but there is equal value in building one another up. There needs to be a balance of the two.

Friends, we have this hope that Christ sustains us. He sustains us through each day, each moment, each assignment, each sleepless night. Because of this hope, we have the freedom to be filled with joy. But we have to choose it. Choose to be joyful rather than pessimistic. Choose to look on the bright side. Choose to notice the beautiful fall leaves. Choose to be thankful for the fact that we are here, doing life together. Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s stressful. Sometimes it involves shivering outside at an ungodly hour rather than catching a few more hours of sleep. But this stressful and overwhelming college life is where God has called each of us. It is in this season of stress that He can best teach us to surrender our schedules to Him and to look to Him for strength to get everything done on time. Let’s choose to make the best of it, and to help each other to see this time as a blessing, instead of a burden.

As John Piper wisely stated: “If you live gladly to make other glad in God, your life will be hard, your risks will be high, and your joy will be full.”

It’s finally that time of the semester. The time when Spring Break draws nigh and the idea of a week away from school makes us drool with anticipation. Unfortunately, beforehand (and even afterwards for some), we have exams, quizzes, papers, and all other sorts of homework to finish. Many times Spring Break is given as a chance to work on projects that would be impossible to handle during the daily rush of things. As such, an important question rises to the forefront of our minds.

How do we get homework done during spring break while still being able to relax and enjoy our break from school?

Well, the answer is simple, but not exactly as easy. Here’s some steps to help you get started:

1. Make a list of MUST-DO assignments. These assignments are ones that are important and need your attention immediately. If you can’t figure out what assignments are ‘must-do’ ones, then look at the syllabus. Must-do assignments often depend on the due date (is it due soon?) or the grade weight (what percentage of the final grade is the assignment?).

2. Space out some time during break specifically for homework. Now, this is not near as easy as it sounds. But pick a time every day where you will get away from family, friends and Facebook and just work on homework.

3. Use your resources. If you need to work on a paper over Spring Break, be sure to check your book out of the library before you leave! Or, check out the eBooks and Online Databases linked on the library.cairn.edu home page, and find what you need right there on your computer! Searching the online catalog can also bring up books that you can access on your computer while you’re at home. Always be aware of the resources you have!

4. Take a break! Depending on the type of student you are, this might be the most important step. Especially at this point in the semester, we are more than capable of running our poor brains into the ground by overstudying. Burnout is very common during this time of midterms and essays, so be sure to step back and take a break! Your brain doesn’t work nearly as well when it’s worn out as it would if you just took a short break. For my break, I’ll watch an episode of Friends. It’s only 22 minutes long, and I feel refreshed enough afterwards that I can go back to tackling my homework! Once I get something else accomplished homework-wise, I can take another break and watch another episode. This keeps me from getting overly-stressed, and it keeps my brain from shutting down on me.

These steps are only the beginning, and all require discipline. That’s where the hard part comes in. But if you follow these basic steps, then you should be able to be at least somewhat productive and be able to relax at the same time! Just remember not to get TOO burnt out on homework, and to enjoy your family and friends while you’re at home! Also, for any of you staying on campus, please remember that we have adjusted hours for spring break! These can be seen in the ‘hours’ link on the library.cairn.edu homepage. Good luck everyone, and have a wonderful spring break!

Student workers promote the library; but sometimes even we acknowledge you can have too much of a good thing. Here are some suggested alternatives.

1. You really need sleep, but you should be studying: You’ve been up all night, but all night wasn’t enough, and your eyelids weigh a million pounds, each.

Alternative: stay in your room. Consider sleeping 10-20 minutes. This light sleep cycle is perfect for a mind-clearing power nap, and your best sleep is bound to happen in your own bed, not at a library table.

2. You’re really hungry, but you should be studying: You’ve got a craving for potato chips. You know, and I know, that those chips aren’t supposed to be in here, what with the rustling bag and the oily finger prints.

Alternative: head to the commuter lounge. The noise level is fairly low, there’s couches, tables, computers – you can even buy your chips in the vending machines there!

3. You really want to fight with your friend/significant other, but you should be studying: you can’t seem to stop thinking about how annoying the world is, when you should be figuring out how to end world hunger.

Alternative: walk through the neighborhood. Grab a friend who will listen, or if you feel comfortable, go for a run by yourself. The creepiest people who live in that neighborhood are probably your professors, and the walking will calm your nerves and clear your head.

4. You’re really getting claustrophobic, but you should be studying: Your room, the library, the MAC, yourroomthelibrarytheMACyourroomthelibrary– MAKE IT STOP! You need a car.

Alternative: take the bus to Newtown. From the stop outside Bottom Dollar, to the stop near Starbucks, the trip is $2.25 each way. The ride is a little long, but if you want a place to study all day, that Starbucks is definitely the cutest place to do it.

5. You really want to drop out of school, but you should be studying: forget campus, forget even Newtown – that’s way too close. You might see someone you know. You might think about homework. You might have a flashback to today’s lecture. Help.

Alternative: go home. Sometimes, if at all possible, you just need your family, your room, and some good food before you venture back to the familiar face of the library front doors. And that’s okay! Even the most independent of us need a break from the sterility of library life. Take the weekend, and come back refreshed.

If we’re being honest, there are loads of times the library just isn’t your best friend. That’s okay. Before you waste hours staring at the wall, get your mind and body in the right place. And when you come back, you might actually be able to get things done.

Welcome to Cairn! It’s exciting isn’t it? All of the new people, new places, new sounds, new surroundings can be so exhilarating….. or, if you are like me when I first arrived, completely overwhelming! You suddenly feel like you were thrown into a Twilight Zone setting where you are expected to attend all of your classes, EVERY chapel, do all of the readings, papers, projects for EVERY class, oh and keep up a healthy regime of eating right at EVERY meal and exercising in the gym at the MAC. Not to mention all of the activities that help build community so of course you are obligated to go EVERY single one because who doesn’t want to be part of community?!

Stop. Take a deep breath. Count to ten. Let it out.

Before you get too far into the semester, let me offer you some tips that I have learned (and am still learning!):

Number 1: You don’t have to do it all. Yup I said it. Obviously homework is a must because without it we wouldn’t learn but don’t feel like you have to attend every activity this school has to offer. Think of them as options. If you like music, attend the music events that seem interesting to you. Or maybe you like to participate in sports, there is always a sporting event you can attend and cheer on the Highlanders! Intramurals are also a great way to be involved in sports. You get exercise and community; two for the price of one!

Number 2: Sometimes you have to use your chapel skips. They give us nine for a reason! Maybe you had a long night of studying and really need that 50 minute break in your schedule to recuperate. Take that time by yourself to refocus on the reason why you are doing all of this. Seek God’s strength to help you through. Pray, read the passage of Scripture that is most encouraging to you, and even sing songs that help draw you closer to God.

Number 3: The Library is here for YOU! Remember all of that reading and those papers you need to write? The Library is a great place to accomplish it all! It’s quiet all the time (unlike the dorms) and the Library staff are here to help you with researching topics and finding books. There are even whole rooms set aside to help keep you focused on your task. Have a question? The student workers and Librarians will do their best to answer them! There are no “stupid” questions and we love to help!

(P.S Did you know we have a movie collection??? Stop in during the Library’s hours and pick up a movie to unwind from all of the homework you are working on!)

]Here’s to you Freshmen in having the best first semester of your college career!

Pray often, Laugh a lot, and hold on tight because college flies by quickly!

We are only a month or so into the school year, but the homework is starting to pile up. Readings are stacking up, papers need to be written, and projects need consideration. With papers, projects and readings looming overhead, I have developed a list of tips to help a student stay on top of the mounds of homework that further our education!

1. Time it. I have seen the excellent advice of pacing yourself; set a timer, generally 25-45 minutes. During this time period you do some hardcore studying, not letting anything distract you. When the timer goes off, take a 5-15 minute break (setting the timer for that as well) to just do something leisurely. Then go at it again, setting a timer to get some firm studying done.

2. Close Facebook. No, seriously. Close it. In fact, don’t touch the browser at all unless you are doing research. Don’t give yourself any excuses. If you absolutely MUST check your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc, then do it during the 5-15 minute break mentioned above. Be SURE to have your timer though, because then you can’t get sucked in for endless hours; the timer will force you to stop and go back to work.

3. Environment matters. Don’t lay on your bed, or lay on a couch. Your environment matters greatly when you study. If you study in a relaxing environment that you always associate with a feeling of rest, then your brain is going to switch to that resting mode it has for that environment. Choose study-specific environments, like the library, or the commuter lounge, or even just your desk in your room. If you don’t believe me that environment matters, ask Matt McAlack! He’ll prove it to you in all the brainy technical terms you’ll need.

4. Prioritize. What’s due first? It’s best to get the things that are due first out of the way. People often try to get the easiest assignments done first, but that’s taking up valuable time that could be better spent on something that is due sooner. This way, you don’t stress out about something that’s due tomorrow because you were working on something that is due in three days. Prioritizing has been especially easy for me with the app ‘MyHomework’, which I got on my Kindle Fire HD. It’s absolutely free and it puts up the list for you of what’s due first.

5. Study Alone. I hear often that people study better in groups, but guys, when we get down to it, we all know that the people we have around us are distracting. When you’re spending time with friends, even if you’re both supposed to be doing homework the temptation to goof off and have fun is overwhelming. It is often best to study alone, or study with one person who is quite studious themselves. It is easy to find a solitary space to study in with the study rooms at the library, to which the keys can be checked out right at the front desk.

Students Studying

6. Use flash cards and notes. This method is especially helpful if you’re in a class that has important terms that must be remembered. Write the term down on one side of an index card, and then write the definition on the other side. Then quiz yourself, only looking on the definition side once you’ve tried to give your own. Also, during readings, it is highly profitable to take notes. If something stands out to you, or if there’s something that you personally disagree with, go ahead and write it down! The professor will absolutely love it when you bring it up with them or the class.

7. Get a head start and don’t cram. This is incredibly important. The sooner you get to work on some of your homework, projects or papers, the sooner it will be done. Cramming is not healthy, mentally or emotionally, and you retain a lot less information when you cram than if you study at a more casual pace. So try to make a list as early in the semester as you can of homework, big and small, and their due dates. This way, when you get something done before it’s due, you’ll have some time to just relax and do something fun instead of cram for that particular piece of homework.

8. Reward yourself. I saw a fantastic idea on Pinterest where a person put gummi bears every so often on the pages of the book they were reading; when you get to the gummi bear, you eat it! This can also be used with M&Ms, Skittles, etc. It motivates you when you get a reward. I would highly suggest this method; a mini candy bar always tastes better when you’ve worked hard to earn it! It gives a much more positive attitude towards homework when you know you’ll get something good out of it.

9. If you don’t understand something, ask! Every single teacher I’ve had here at Cairn has always responded graciously to any emails I sent with a question. Teachers love it when you ask questions because that shows you’re doing the work and thinking about it, and that you want to do the work well. If there’s a prompt for a homework assignment that is confusing for you, or if the guidelines for your paper or presentation could mean a couple different things, just send the professor an email and ask them. They will be more than happy to get back to you and elaborate on what they mean and what they are looking for. Just remember; it never hurts to ask!

10. WANT IT. This is the most important tip I could possibly give. You have to WANT to get your homework done, or else none of these tips will work anyways. You have to be willing to sit down and work hard for this education that you are paying to have. College is a gift that plenty of American students take for granted. We’re here to experience and learn, and to learn we have to do some things that aren’t always pleasant. Even if it’s not pleasant, you can want to get it done. And who knows? Maybe you’ll learn a few things by the time you finish that annoying homework assignment or tough paper.

It’s finals week, a time that for many can be filled with great amounts of stress. Many of you may start to see your news feeds littered with stories of those who decided to cheat in order to pass with various creative methods. Some of them will get caught, but I am here to share with you a foolproof method for cheating on finals.

The first thing to do is find out what is going to be on the test. You can usually find this information in the syllabus, or on eLearning. If you can’t find any information there, just ask the professor. Sometimes hiding in plain sight is the least suspicious thing you can do.

You will need a secure location for the next step. I recommend the library study rooms for their unrivaled privacy and lack of interruption. (The library also provides coffee during finals week to fuel your diabolical plans. It is also open for an extra hour on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday) Remember to prepare ahead of time. Last second attempts almost always fail or get caught.

This next step is the most important. You need to take the information that you know will be on the final and write it onto your memory. Repetition is your friend here. Flash cards and mnemonic devices can help here too. This is very important as the teacher CANNOT see what is inside of your head. You can hide any amount of information in there with little to no repercussions.

Get a good night’s rest. You’ll need it.

Finally, on the day of the test, confidence is key. Walk through the door in the least suspicious way you can muster. Write down all the information that you “snuck in” and leave to avoid suspicion. Remember, the teacher has NO way of knowing that you have all the answers. Unless you tell him or her, you will NOT get caught.

If you made it this far and followed all the steps you should be good to go. Be sure to laugh at all the other students who are “studying.” You know better. Enjoy your break.

This is a list of 6 helpful tips that, if I had cared more about them earlier, would have saved me from a lot of stress. As a Senior, I wish I had taken this advice much seriously much sooner. (Disclaimer: All of these are from my life. If they describe you it is merely coincidence)

1. Check and respond to your Cairn email. I’ve missed numerous deadlines (payments, book return dates, etc.)because I either neglected to read my email or just chose not to care, expecting that things would go my way. Entitlement is not an appropriate Christian attitude.Lesson Learned: Freshman Year

2.Take responsibility. I don’t know about you, but I have weaseled my way out of lots of problems, even at a Biblical university. I like to blame the cosmic forces that are (so, God I guess) for every problem that comes my way. “I’m sorry,” is a much better response than, “I can’t pay that $500 fine for this overdue book because I’m busy and never check my school email.”Lesson Learned: Sophomore Year

3.Work now, play later. Prioritizing your life as a student means that assignments come first. If for some reason they can’t, then you need to re-prioritize so they can. Completing work on-time and completing work well can be an act of worship with the right motivation. Do all things to the glory of God.Lesson Learned: Junior Year

4. Print assignments early. A lot of folks like to print out papers 10 minutes before their class starts. Waiting in line at the printer can be super frustrating especially if the printer malfunctions (which can happen), and puts you in a poor mood for class.Lesson Learned: Sophomore Year

5. Accept help with grace. Cairn faculty, staff, and student workers are not out to get you. We want to help because we in fact do know that life is tough, stressful, and out-of-control at times. If you let go of pride and accept help (or let go of pride that things could ever dare go wrong for you) then we can help you more effectively.Lesson Learned: Junior Year

6.Trust Jesus. Ultimately, a failing grade does not have eternal weight. It may bring shame or disappointment, but your righteousness and approval before God is found solely in Christ. If you truly grasp that, you have the power to go before a professor and admit your mistakes (not hiding them because you fear punishment) and even ask for help. Repentance plays just as important role in human relationships as it does with God and will prevent a lot of problems from getting as bad as you might let them.Lesson Re-learned: Every Year